Monday, 30 April 2012

Wind power producers Britain and Denmark are studying options to build a power cable between them to import and export renewable energy and increase market competition, the countries' grid operators said on Monday.

Britain's National Grid and Denmark's Energinet.dk will publish an initial interconnector study by the end of this year, detailing potential landing points, capacity and how a cable could integrate into a North Sea super grid to connect offshore wind power.

Friday, 27 April 2012

David Cameron today backed the growth of renewable energy as “vital” to the UK's future - but warned green power sources had to be financially sustainable.

Speaking specifically on the environment for the first time since pledging to lead "the greenest government ever", the Prime Minister said the UK was now one of the best places in the world for green energy, investment and jobs.

In a riposte to critics of renewables, including Tory backbenchers who have attacked subsidies for wind power, Mr Cameron said he "passionately" believed the rapid growth of renewable energy was vital for the future.

But his comments were dismissed by environmentalists who said the sector, which is growing by 4% a year while the rest of the economy slides back into recession, needed consistent support from across Government - including the Treasury.

The Chancellor George Osborne has been accused of "anti-green rhetoric" after warning green policies could put a burden on business.

These include offsetting carbon emissions, providing wind turbine jobs, appearing in adverts for energy companies to show how eco-friendly they are, and giving angry people something to complain about in local newspapers.

You might not think that the uses of wind power go much further than that. After all, while wind farms might be a great idea, obviously there are a limited number of things you can stick a windmill on top of, right?

Thursday, 26 April 2012

Following Nick Clegg’s push for UK energy companies to offer the British public the best tariffs, utilities giant SSE has announced that it is to offer all its customers an ‘Annual Energy Review’ (AER), the company revealed today.

SSE said this afternoon that, after a successful pilot programme involving over 1,000 customers, it will now offer an AER to “make sure that customers are on the best product for their needs, paying for their energy in the most effective way, using their energy efficiently and accessing any benefits or support they might be entitled to.”

Earlier this month, the Deputy Prime Minister claimed that families were paying too much for their bills as they are on the wrong tariff.

SSE said it will start off by prioritising AERs for “vulnerable” customers before rolling-out the scheme nationwide throughout the year. SSE has reassured that it will freeze prices until at least October 2012, in spite of wholesale price pressures.

From oil fields to wind turbines to coal mines, size and scale rule the economics of energy.

But the nuclear industry is thinking small these days.

The latest evidence came last week when Ameren Missouri and Westinghouse Electric Co. announced plans to pursue a $452 million federal subsidy to advance development of small modular reactors that could be built alongside the utility’s much larger Callaway nuclear plant near Fulton, Mo.

While some utilities are still pursuing full-scale plants, there is a parallel push for smaller reactors that could be easier for utilities to finance and minimize sticker shock for regulators and consumers. But despite a lower total cost, there’s no evidence yet that tiny fission factories would be able to produce electricity at a competitive cost in an era of abundant, cheap natural gas.

"There just isn’t any proof that small reactors are going to be any more economic than larger ones," said Peter Bradford, an adjunct law professor at Vermont Law School and a former Nuclear Regulatory Commission member. "At this point, it’s all about hype and hope."

The so-called small nuclear reactors promise the same benefits as larger ones: namely, an option for around-the-clock, low-carbon electric generation that could be a key in replacing aging coal plants.

For utilities considering nuclear technology, the smaller size means a smaller price. Even using the most generous cost estimates, a new nuclear plant the size of Ameren Missouri’s existing Callaway plant could rival or exceed the $7.5 billion market value of the utility’s entire parent company.

But the differences go beyond size. For one, the small reactors envisioned would be modular, able to be manufactured at a central factory, shipped by rail, ships or truck and assembled on site. That means a potentially larger market for vendors like Westinghouse.

"This (small) plant will appeal to a very broad market," Kate Jackson, a Westinghouse senior vice president and chief technology officer said last week.

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

A new website has been launched with the aim of enabling people to invest from as little as £5 in green energy projects and enjoy an attractive return.

Abundance describes itself as a "community finance platform" allowing small investors to put money into UK renewable energy schemes and receive a regular cash return based on the energy produced.

It is looking to raise money from consumers tired of the old banking model who want their cash to be used to help fund green projects and facilitate change. And it says rates of return are expected to average 5%-9%, depending on the type of scheme in which the money is invested.

Abundance is currently aiming to raise £1.4m to build a wind turbine on the edge of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, and has plans for further renewable energy schemes – solar and hydro – around the country.

The platform says it works in a similar way to "peer-to-peer" lending websites such as Zopa - as a middle man, getting investors together with community groups and companies that want to build environmental projects. It collects the money and organises the payouts to investors in return for a 1.9% fee paid by the body that builds and operates the project.

Individuals can invest as little as £5 in each project, or as much as £50,000. Abundance is marketing itself on the basis that some investors will put in enough to produce a return each year that will cover their annual electricity bill – typically £500 a year.

Bruce Davis, the site's co-founder, and one of the founders of Zopa, describes the website as democratic finance in action. "We are enabling small investors to produce a regular return from the generation and sale of 100% green electricity from wind, solar, hydro and other renewable energy sources," he says.

"Abundance is like a building society for the 21st century which enables our customers' money to go directly into projects generating growth and revenue in the real economy."

Britain’s energy secretary Ed Davey and his American counterpart Steven Chu are set to announce a joint venture between Britain and the US to accelerate the development of new floating wind turbines technology.

Floating offshore wind turbines should provide the cost effectiveness the “Wind Industry” needs to gain recognition amongst investors and establish itself as a leading renewable energy resource for Britain and other countries around the world.

Traditional offshore wind farms must be located in waters less than 200 feet deep. Studies revealed that wind speeds are consistently stronger above deeper waters.

Floating wind turbines will enable the possibility to tap into winds that are located in deeper waters. Not to mention that once the technology is fully deployed such turbines should cost a lot less than their conventional siblings.

Speaking on the matter, Ed Davey said: “Turbines will be able to locate in ever deeper waters where the wind is stronger but without the expense of foundation down to the seabed or having to undertake major repairs out at sea,”

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Insulation company Superglass Holdings has warned future trading could be hit by UK government plans to improve the energy efficiency of homes.

Ministers intend to move from a scheme which gives grants for home insulation to a new mechanism which eliminates the need for householders to pay upfront for energy efficiency measures.

The move to the new 'Green Deal' is due before the end of this year.

But Superglass said there was uncertainty over how it would operate.

The Stirling-based company raised its concerns as it reported it had completed a refinancing package at the end of last year after suffering financial difficulties.

Nearly 190 jobs at the company were safeguarded after the firm raised almost £8m and agreed to reduce its debt.

In its interim results for the six months to the end of February, it reported revenue was up 14% to £17.2m.

Superglass said recent sales activity related to the current Carbon Emissions Reduction Target Scheme (CERT) - which gives grants to households insulating their homes - was encouraging, but pointed out the programme was due to expire at the end of 2012.

It added: "Thereafter, as noted above, the impact of Green Deal and its effect on Superglass' business remains very difficult to predict at this time.

E.ON has announced a series of improvements for its small and medium business customers, including new industry standards for business sales by energy brokers and a customer panel to reflect the views of business. The changes form part of the company's Reset Review which was launched in January to examine every aspect of its relationship with its customers.

Tony Cocker, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, said: "One of our key aims continues to be the improvement of sales standards for small business customers across the entire industry, which is why we’re launching a full code of practice for business energy brokers and will be approaching other energy suppliers to invite them to sign up to this single code too."Reset Review update on initiatives for small businesses

Changes that have been made within the first three months of the Reset Review as well as new measures to be implemented over the coming weeks and months include:New Code of Practice

Over 50% of all small businesses use a broker to switch energy supplier but there are currently no minimum standards in place to protect small businesses throughout the sales process. To improve sales standards across the industry E.ON is launching a full Code of Practice for SME business energy brokers which sets out the standards it expects them to adhere to when selling to customers and hopes that other energy firms will adopt this single independent set of principles.

The code will ensure the product offered is appropriate to the needs of the customer and make the entire sales process a more transparent and positive experience. The energy supplier will be working with all of its SME business energy brokers/consultants to implement the set of principles as part of their sales processes and intends to operate these principles as standard from 31 July.

UK large solar power is "back on" for developers who can build and supply electricity on-site for industrial customers, British Gas' Chris Morrison said late Wednesday at a seminar held by legal firm SNR Denton.

Morrison, head of commercial for British Gas New Energy, a division of Centrica, said there was a viable business in developing large solar photovoltaic plants on land leased from a client who is then supplied directly by the plant, avoiding transmission connection fees.

Monday, 23 April 2012

An energy company has apologised after sending a Peterborough charity a gas bill for almost £78,000.

E.On issued the bill in April to Neil McGregor-Paterson, who runs the Realitas Community Arts Centre.

"Our usual bills are £30 a month but we were told they were estimated. They took two readings and I gave them three before they sent this bill," he said.

An E.On spokesman said the company was "truly sorry for the large bill... issued in human error". Mr McGregor-Paterson received the bill after querying an earlier one sent to the charity by E.On, in March.

British prompt gas prices rose on Monday morning as supply lagged demand amid colder-than-average temperatures forecast until the end of the month, while curve gas slumped with weakening oil prices.

However, average summer temperatures across Europe will be higher-than-normal between May and July, with the exception of southeastern parts of the continent, forecaster Weather Services International (WSI) said.

May gas prices rose slightly despite warm weather forecasts on the back of ongoing uncertainty over liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies and bullish momentum feeding in from the prompt market.

RBS has upped its commitment to UK renewable energy initiatives by lending more than £209m to fund projects in 2011 - with wind energy taking the lion's share of funding.

The Infrastructure Journal revealed that across the banking sector lending grew by nearly 200% on the previous year- with RBS revealed as the largest lender.

In line with this commitment RBS, yesterday (April 18), published its 2011 Sustainability Report, which revealed that 58% of its global energy projects went to renewables, with wind power projects gaining 31% of its total financing. This was followed by solar at 14%, gas fired and biomass at 13%.

Thursday, 19 April 2012

Harrogate-based commercial gas supplier CNG has made the ‘Hot 100’ a list of the UK’s fastest growing, privately owned companies; following research commissioned by Investec and Real Business Magazine.

The Investec Hot 100 – compiled using audited accounts information from Companies House – has collectively achieved an average compound

growth rate of 44 per cent over the past four years and an average turnover of £150 million in their last financial year.

New proposals made by the government last week are set to make it easier for home-owners to save money on their energy bills through having boilers, insulation, double glazing and other eco-friendly features installed, it has claimed.

This new “Green Deal” drawn up by Andrew Stunell, Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove, will allow home-owners to borrow up to £10,000 for home improvements which will then be paid back over a period of time at a rate that is less than or equal to the savings made on their energy bills. Despite controversy, Greg Barker, Minister of State has attempted to silence his critics by commenting;

“People can expect to save money. There will be two assessments to help consumers see for themselves how much they stand to save. The first assessment will take account of the average energy use of the home, and the second will look at how the occupants use the home so they can enter the green deal knowing how best to maximise what they will save. The green deal charge will be fixed from the start too and is designed to ensure money is saved based on existing energy prices. So if energy prices rise, which seems likely, savings will substantially increase”

But despite these reassurances, much scepticism remains surrounding the bill with many Tory MPs being reportedly against it; Eric Pickles, Grant Schapps and Chris Grayling are all said to be opposed to the new measures, and there is much concern within consumer groups that the customer will not be adequately protected.

The DECC commissioned a study from a panel of independent Geologists to investigate whether the seismic events experienced in the Blackpool area last year during shale gas extraction could be related to “fracking”. They concluded that hydraulic fracturing is “safe” as long as certain basic precautions are put in place.

Falling energy prices? Bills going down? A glut of cheap, natural gas less dirty than coal so less costly in terms of cash and carbon? An American dream?

That's the promise that some make looking at the experience of the US where shale gas, that in simple terms is blasted out the ground using water and chemicals in a process called 'fracking', has turned the energy market upside down.

Electricity and gas prices have been pushed down dramatically - they've sunk to the lowest level in ten years across the Atlantic.

The government on Tuesday backed the exploration of shale gas nearly one year after it temporarily banned the drilling method which triggered two earthquakes in Britain but that has also revolutionised the U.S. energy market.

Monday, 16 April 2012

GDF Suez said in a statement that the transaction represents a major strategic step in its development and is consistent with its strategy of accelerating its development in fast growing markets and simplifying its structure.

Gérard Mestrallet, chairman and chief executive of GDF Suez, said the deal "will allow the Group to fully capture growth in fast growing markets ... we want GDF Suez to be the leading energy player in the emerging countries”.

Friday, 13 April 2012

Waste2Tricity, a structured solutions provider, today announced it has acquired the exclusive rights for AFC Energy Plc (AIM: AFC) hydrogen fuel cells for deployment in the UK energy-from-waste sector. The fuel cells will be used with hydrogen produced by high temperature gasification. The right of first refusal for additional territories, Europe and North America, is also secured.

Waste2Tricity has agreed an Appointment Fee of £1 million, payable at pre-agreed intervals over the next four years. The first instalment of £150,000 will be paid immediately. Waste2Tricity‘s exclusivity is for an initial 10 years and subject to performance and additional payments this will be extended over a further 10 years.

Thursday, 12 April 2012

The carbon-cutting beast that is the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) is aimed at cutting the UK’s carbon emissions.

While many businesses want to reduce their energy emissions, the CRC has attracted criticism for being overly complicated and costly.

According to a KPMG report, it is estimated the administrative cost per participant to date has been between £30,000 to £36,000, with future costs of about £8,000 per year over the next three years.

This will impact on SMEs taking part in the scheme, where they have to cover costs, establish management systems, registering with the scheme and producing reports.

To simplify the CRC, the Government published a consultation in March. Rather than announcing anything out of the ordinary, it builds on several informal discussion papers issued in 2011.

These include qualification for phase two of the scheme, based only on the consumption of electricity by business through settled half hourly meters and the 6,000MWh annual threshold. Although this will lead to a reduction in the number of participants, modelling suggests emissions coverage at current levels will be maintained.

The supply rules will remain the same but amended to provide clarity in third party scenarios. However, there will be no requirement for payment in order to establish a supply relationship.

A lack of rigorous legislation governing the behavior of UK energy brokers has allowed some firms to engage in practices that are threatening to harm the reputation of the entire marketplace.

Between the industry authorities Ofgem and the Office of Fair Trading lies a grey area in which neither has any particular sway. This has been exploited by a small minority of energy brokers, which have used practices that leave small business customers disadvantaged. Legislation is needed to close the protection gap, but the problem facing the authorities is that the vast majority of firms act in the best interests of their customers, and therefore any new legislation should not have any effect on them.

Ofgem is attempting to solve this problem and prevent unscrupulous brokers from exploiting customers through practices including misrepresenting offers from suppliers, not being clear on the fee or commission that is being charged, or only negotiating with suppliers that offer the broker the best commission. Current proposals center on banning brokers from preventing customers contacting the supplier directly and making accreditation to an Ofgem-backed scheme compulsory.

So far so good, as any legitimate broker would certainly be able to comply with these regulations almost immediately. However, should the legislation go further?

The answer to this may lie with the energy suppliers, which have been accused in the past of being silent on the accounts that brokers deliver to them even when it is clear that the customer is not on the right tariff or deal.

The Government is to enter negotiations to tap the power of Iceland's volcanoes to pump low-carbon electricity into the UK, it emerged last night. Energy minister Charles Hendry is to visit Iceland next month to discuss connecting Britain to its geothermal-energy resources, it was reported.

Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Smart energy meters supplier Bglobal has signed a deal to help Energetix develop a new energy supply company. Energetix, a developer of alternative energy products which is based at Capenhurst, near Chester, has bought Circuit Energy Supply, a subsidiary of Bglobal's Utiligroup business.

The deal gives Energetix an electricity supply licence which will enable it to trade electricity in the UK. It has also signed a software licence agreement with Utilisoft, a subsidiary of Utiligroup.

Gas network owners have raised the prospect of escalating energy costs beyond 2020 after predicting that distribution costs will rise by up to 27% by the beginning of the next decade.

Network companies including National Grid have told the energy regulator that the cost of upgrading their facilities will rise by double-digit amounts between 2013 and 2021 – an increase that would ultimately be passed on to consumers if it is waved through.

The estimates led one energy commentator to warn that the energy-related financial squeeze on UK households was coming from "all sides".

Network owners claim that the cost increases will pay for the replacement of steel pipes with plastic tubing, and cover the cost of disruptive street works.

In submissions to the Ofgem watchdog, Northern Gas Networks, which supplies energy to 2.6 million customers in northern England, said costs would increase by 27%. The largest distributor, National Grid, which covers 10m homes including in London, proposed cost increases of 11%, and the second largest, Scotia Gas Networks, which covers Scotland and the south-east, claimed costs would also rise by 11%. Wales and West Utilities put forward the second highest increase, at 22%.

The GMB trade union, which represents around 30,000 energy industry workers, warned that thousands of jobs were at risk due to the increased use of subcontractors in the eight-year plans. "We are in a perfect storm for consumers," the union said. "In an industry that is less safe, with lower standards of service, it is the economics of the madhouse."

The gas networks supply energy to a total of 20m homes in the UK.

Mark Todd, director of the Energyhelpline.com price comparison site, said the submissions underlined the financial toll exacted on households by energy costs. Distribution costs account for around 20% of a household gas bill. According to Todd, the average daily gas bill has more than doubled since 2002, from 91p to £2.06.

The UK government is to publish plans to give regulator Ofgem new powers to force energy companies to compensate customers for mis-selling and overcharging.

Currently, energy suppliers voluntarily give cash to consumers following errors – but there is no obligation – while Ofgem has been able to fine companies, but that money has gone to the government.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey said he wants to bring Ofgem in line with other regulators such as Ofcom and the Financial Services Authority, who can ensure compensation goes to customers.

The redress could include pound-for-pound compensation, goodwill payments or public apologies.

“I want to make sure that consumers are protected and that the independent energy regulator has the powers it needs,” he said. “The government has already strengthened Ofgem’s hand by making it harder for energy companies to block licence changes, and introduced tougher rules on the information suppliers have to provide to their customers.

Thursday, 5 April 2012

As we get ready to publish our latest UK energy market report the DECC released last year’s energy statistics. Even though figures did not match the predicted targets Renewable energy generation expanded significantly and carbon emissions fell in 2011.

Renewable energy generation registered an increase of 35% in comparison to the previous year (2010). Back then renewables accounted for 6.8% of all electricity supplied in the UK. Last year it was responsible for 9,5%, only 0,5% short of the illusive 10% mark that had been predicted.

Wednesday, 4 April 2012

Britain's energy regulator Ofgem has started investigating whether electricity and gas supplier E.ON has used inappropriate sales tactics in its telephone and face-to-face marketing, the watchdog said on Wednesday.

As we get ready to publish our latest UK energy market report the DECC released last year’s energy statistics. Even though figures did not match the predicted targets Renewable energy generation expanded significantly and carbon emissions fell in 2011.

Renewable energy generation registered an increase of 35% in comparison to the previous year (2010). Back then renewables accounted for 6.8% of all electricity supplied in the UK. Last year it was responsible for 9,5%, only 0,5% short of the illusive 10% mark that had been predicted.

Monday, 2 April 2012

British front-month gas prices found support on Monday from news Yemen's liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports would be cut by four cargoes following a pipeline explosion, while other contracts eased in line with weak equities markets, traders said.

British gas for delivery in May traded above historical closing levels on Monday at 60.30 pence per therm as British LNG imports could suffer from other buyers offering a premium over UK prices to attract lost exports from Yemen.

"The news should provide some good support," said a UK gas trader at a utility. "But equity weakness is also feeding into the oil and gas complex."

Yemen LNG said late on Friday its production would drop by four cargoes following the explosion of a pipeline which feeds the terminal with gas.